St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-11-12

manded the blood of the spy. Fortu-
nately, Arago had gotten wind of his
unpopularity and had secretly dispatcl ed
q messenger to Palma, the largest town of
the island, asking that the ship belonging
to the expedition be sent to his relief
1t came in the very nick of time, and
NJ. Arago escaped on board with his
instruments If he heaved sigh of re-
lief as he saw the shores of inhospitable
Maiorca fading into the blue uncertainty
of the horizon he did it prematurely, for
he was lust on the brink of a series of
disagreeable adventures. The captain of
the ship had accompanied the expedition
to the islands and had appeared Of q
friendly disposition, but he had become
infected with the suspicious of the Ma
jorcans, and after thinking the matter
over fatty told the astounded scientist
that he intended carrying him back to
! MajOrca. In vain Nj. Arago stormed and
entreated Back he went and found
himself a prisoner in the citadel, prey
to anxious thoughts as to the probable
length of his imprisonment, and not
altogether free from fears for his life.
Several months passed, and then Senior
Rodriguez, hearing of hhe sad plight of
his colleague, boldly demanded his re-
lease. declaring the honor of Spain tar
nished by this ill-treatment of a peaceful
astronomer. A reluctant permission to
| leave the island was the result of this
| Intervention. 1t was needless to add the
stipulation of instant departure, for NJ.
Arago was exceedingly glad to shake
the Majorcan dust OFT his feet, and he
embarked on trader bound for Algiers.
Arriving at this port, he made himself
! known to the French consul, by whom
he was kindly received, and he engaged
passage for him on an Algerian bark
about to sail for Marselles. The wind
was fair, the sea pacific, and after quick
passage Marseilles was almost in sight
when a strange sail made chase
and quickly overhauled the ship.
The pursuer proved to be a Spanish
privateer, and having made a prize
| of the vessel brought her to the
port of Rosas, town in the extreme
northeast corner of Spain. Here NJ.
Arago conceived the plan of crossing the
| Pyrenees and reaching HON, that way.
| Just as he was about acting upon his
plan he was recognized as Frenchman,
he having disguised himself as German
merchant. He was instantly thrown into
prison without any hope of relief in the
near future. 1t so happened, however,
that the seizure of an Algerine vessel by
| Spaniard was a violation of interna-
tional law, for Spain and Algiers were at
peace The Dey of Algiers consequently
| demanded the immediate release of the
ship, equipment and passengers, under
pain of war being declared. Spain could
not afford another war, so she complied
with the demand, and again M. Arago
started for his native land
Once more the elements were propi-
tious, and soft southerly wind waited
them almost into the harbor OF Mar
settles, when suddenly the heavens were
enshrouded with clouds, the wind burst
from the northeast, and the ship was
obliged to scud before it until she
reached a refuge in a cove on the coast
of the Island of Sardinia. 1t was but
an example of out of the frying-p pan
into the fire, for Sardinia was at war
with Algiers, and if cruiser should spy
the ship sojourn in Sandman prison
was inevitable for crew and passengers.
Under these circumstances, the wind still
being adverse to reaching France, it was
resolved to run for the African coast,
and at last they entered the little port of
Bougiah, some 100 miles from the city of
Algiers. Here they found change in
affairs. The energetic Dey who had de-
manded the release of the ship from Spain
was dead. He had been killed in an in:
surrectionary emeute and his successor
was different style of man. When the
customs officers boarded the ship they
gazed suspiciously at the heavy cases
which contained NJ. Aragos instruments.
On opening the cases they saw glittering
pieces of metal carefully wrapped up
and they believed them to be gold. In
vain the disguised scientist represented
the true character of the instruments;
the officers shook their heads and con-
fscated them. Every means of rescuing
them having been exhausted, M. Arago
attired himself in Algerine costume and
crossed q chain of mountains, travelling
through lawless country until he
reached Algiers, where, like q bad
penny, he presented himself to the consul.
| Through the exertions of this functionary
| the instruments were recovered after six
months had been used up in efforts, and
then the authorities only surrendered
them because they found them made of
brass. The consul had permission to
return home and intended sailing on a
ship-of- war, which would convoy fleet
of merchantmen M. Arago availed him
self of this opportunity and reached
| Marseilles only to find that port block
AIDED by an English squadron, which de-
clared the vessels prizes and ordered
them to proceed to Minorca. Fortune
having now buffeted NJ. Arago to her
hearts content deigned to smile vpon him,
and under cover of the night his ship
managed to run the blockade and the
weary, homesick astronomer found him
self once more in France.
las G. PIuMMER